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Country Report on the State of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

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Country Report on the State of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE UGANDA UGANDA Second Country Report on the State of PGRFA Prepared by: Plant Genetic Resources Centre National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) Complied by: Plant Genetic Resources Centre – NARO Entebbe Botanic Gardens’ P.O Box 40, Entebbe Email: [email protected] Tel: +256 414 320638 2 August 2008 Note by FAO This Country Report has been prepared by the national authorities in the context of the preparatory process for the Second Report on the State of World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Report is being made available by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as requested by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. However, the report is solely the responsibility of the national authorities. The information in this report has not been verified by FAO, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of FAO. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of FAO. CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9 INTRODUCTION 9 1. Size and location 9 2. Topography 9 3. Climate 9 4. Population 9 5. Vegetation 9 6. Agriculture crop sector 10 7. Forest genetic resources 12 8. Wetlands and water bodies 13 CHAPTER 1 THE STATE OF DIVERSITY 15 1.1 The state of diversity and relative importance of all major crops for food security 15 1.2 The state of diversity and relative importance of minor crops and underutilized species 15 1.3 Factors influencing farmer’s crop and variety choices 16 1.4 Factors driving change in crop diversity 16 1.5 Surveying and inventorying PGRFA 17 1.6 Promoting in situ conservation of wild crop relatives and wild plants for food production 17 1.7 Sustaining existing ex situ collections 17 1.8 Regenerating threatened ex situ accessions 18 1.9 Promoting sustainable agriculture through diversification of crop production and broader diversity in crops 18 1.10 Promoting development and commercialisation of underutilised crops and species 18 1.11 Developing markets for local varieties and “diversity rich” products 19 1.12 Supporting seed production and distribution 19 1.13 Developing monitoring and early warning systems for loss of PGRFA 20 CHAPTER 2 THE STATE OF IN SITU CONSERVATION 21 2.1 In situ management 21 2.2 Plant genetic resources inventories and surveys 21 2.2.1 Inventories and surveys 21 2.3 Conservation of wild PGRFA in protected areas 22 2.3.1 State of in situ conservation in forest and reserves 22 2.4 Ecosystem management for conservation of PGRFA and crop-associated biodiversity outside protected areas 23 2.4.1 PGRC and ecosystem management 23 2.5 On-farm management and improvement of PGRFA 23 2.5.1 Documented on-farm activities 23 CHAPTER 3 THE STATE OF EX SITU MANAGEMENT 25 3.1 Institutional organization 25 3.2 The state of collections 25 3.3 Collecting 26 3.4 Types of collections (major and minor crops) 26 3.5 Storage facilities 27 3.6 Security of stored material 27 3.7 Documentation and characterization 27 3.8 Germplasm movement 27 3.9 Roles of botanical gardens 28 3.10 An assessment of major ex situ needs 28 CHAPTER 4 THE STATE OF USE 30 4.1 Expanding the characterization, evaluation and number of core collections to facilitate use 30 4.2 Increasing genetic enhancement and base-broadening efforts 30 4.3 Promoting agriculture through diversification and crop production and broader diversity in crops 31 4.4 Promoting development and commercialisation of underutilised crops and species 31 4.5 Supporting seed production and distribution 32 4.6 Developing new markets for local varieties and “diversity rich” products 32 4.7 Distribution of PGR 33 4.8 Utilisation and enhancing the use of PGR 33 4.9 Challenges and constraints in use of PGR 34 CHAPTER 5 THE STATE OF NATIONAL PROGRAMMES, TRAINING AND LEGISLATION 35 5.1 National programmes 35 5.2 Education, training, research and public awareness 36 5.2.1 Education, training and research 36 5.2.2 Public awareness and information exchange 36 5.3 Legislation with relevance to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture 37 5.3.1 The constitution 37 5.3.2 The land act, 1998 38 5.3.3 The National Agricultural Advisory Services Act, 2001 38 5.3.4 The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 38 5.3.5 The National Agricultural Research Act, 2005 39 5.3.6 The Seeds and Plant Act, 2006 39 CHAPTER 6 THE STATE OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION 40 6.1 Regional and sub-regional networks, international crop-specific networks and sub-regional collaboration for maintaining ex situ collections 40 6.2 International programmes 40 6.3 International agreements 40 6.4 The global system for the conservation and use of PGR 40 6.5 Assessment of major needs to improve international collaboration 41 CHAPTER 7 ACCESS TO PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, SHARING OF BENEFITS ARISING OUT OF THEIR USE, AND FARMERS’ RIGHTS 42 7.1 Access to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and benefit sharing 42 7.1.1 The National Environment (Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing) Regulations, 2005 42 7.1.2 The draft national policy on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture 43 7.2 Farmers’ Rights 44 CHAPTER 8 THE CONTRIBUTION OF PGRFA MANAGEMENT TO FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 46 8.1 Contribution to agricultural sustainability 46 8.2 Contribution to food security 46 8.3 Contribution to economic development 46 8.4 Contribution to poverty alleviation 47 REFERENCES 48 APPENDIX SOME OF THE FAMILIES CONTAINING WILD AND SEMI DOMESTICATED SPECIES USED FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA 50 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AVRDC Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBOs Community Based Organisations CFR Central Forest Reserve (CFR) CIAT CIAT Regional Bean Program CIDA Canadian International Development Agency EAPGREN East African Plant Genetic Resource Network GEF Global Environment Facility GIS Geographical Information System GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics IITA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ITPGRFA International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture NAADS National Agricultural Advisory Services NARO National Agricultural Research Organization NGOs Non Governmental Organization NISM National Information Sharing Mechanism PGR Plant Genetic Resources. PGRC Plant Genetic Resources Centre PGRFA Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. PLEC People Land Management and Ecosystem Conservation PMA Plan for Modernization of Agriculture R & D Research and Development UNEP United Nations Environment Programme 7 UGANDA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Production of this report was made possible by the contribution of many stakeholders from government departments and ministries, non-government organizations, public and private training and research institutions and individuals in their own capacities. The role played by the national steering committee in guiding the National Information Sharing Mechanism (NISM) secretariat and focal point remains key to this process for the present and future. The contact persons at institution level undertook their task of compiling data with diligence. The technical backstopping offered by Bioversity International was very instrumental. The CIDA financial support which facilitated the entire process is highly appreciated. The following persons are gratefully acknowledged for their contributions in drafting the chapters: Beatrice Male Kayiwa, Ronald Naluwairo, Miriam Ojok Babigumila not forgetting John Wasswa Mulumba and Brenda Namulondo who were the NFP. 8 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INTRODUCTION 1. Size and location Uganda is a land locked country, located in East Africa, lying between latitude 40 12’ N and 10 29’ S and longitude 290 34’ E and 350 E. It lies astride the equator, bordered by Sudan to the North, Kenya to the East, Tanzania to the South, Zaire to the West and Rwanda to the South West. The total land area is 236 000 km2 of which 33 926 km2 is permanent water and 7 674 km2 is permanent swamp. Dry land accounts for 194 000 km2. 2. Topography Towards the South, the characteristic scenery consists of flat topped masa-like hills and broad valleys frequently containing swamps. Towards the North, the landscape consists of gently rolling open plains interrupted by occasional hills, mountains and inselbergs. Most of the country lies within altitude 900 – 1 500m above sea level. The lowest point in Uganda is at Nimule on the Sudan border in North Western part of the country, where the altitude is 600 m.a.s.l and the highest point is Mt Rwenzori whose highest pick is 5 100 masl. 3. Climate Over most of the country, mean annual maximum temperatures range between 18-350C; and mean annual minimum temperature range between 8–230C. Relative humidity is often high, ranging from 70% to 100%. Mean monthly evaporation rates range between 125-200 mm.
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